And who bought it? For how much? Where has it played? Where can I go to see it on DVD/Blu-Ray?
Anyone else excited about the future of DSLRs?
- Thread starter dtjohns1
- Start date
And who bought it? For how much? Where has it played? Where can I go to see it on DVD/Blu-Ray?
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
Well, without digging through my boxes, I have copies of the horror comedies "Deceptors" and "Skelton Key" (not the Kate Hudson one). I have "Tarnation" (the commercial one, so I'll give you that it cost more than the $700.00 version), "The Last Broadcast", "Figure in the Forest", "Heaven's Neighbors", "Knight Chills", "An Ordinary Killer". I picked up a few Brain Damage flicks at a video store going out of business sale, but the only titles I can remember is "Dead Body Man", and "Blood Forever" (or "Forever Blood" maybe") I also have a copy of the experimental feature "Tofu Lambfries". All of those were made for under $100K. In the $100K to $500K range I have copies of "Wicked Spring" and "Hatred of a Minute". I have recently watched "Devil of Blue Mountain" and "Behind the Eight" from NetFlix. Those are sub $100K flicks.
And apparently it's only available as a digital download, not even a DVD release (at least at Amazon.com)
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
I was simply countering the assertion that no films made for a microbudget have ever played at Cannes. you seem to be arguing something else?
Rick Burnett
Section Moderator
I was simply countering the assertion that no films made for a microbudget have ever played at Cannes. you seem to be arguing something else?
Thanks for reminding me about this movie, I really want to see it and had forgotten about it!
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
what am I, your mother? amazon.co.uk, play.com and hmv.
The assertion wasn't made that microbudget films don't play at Cannes:
So yes, we are arguing slightly different things, but I don't Colin was in any kind of competition at Cannes, even if it screened there.
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
Then stay away from the Brain Damage catalogue! Compared to most of the stuff I have seen from there, "Devil of Blue Mountain" is efin' "Gone With the Wind".
Though I liked "Devil From Blue Mountain". It is the best $200.00 two day movie I've ever seen.
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
But back to the OP. I am excited about the future of video cameras in general. I am not sure that the DSLR form factor is going to be where the action is going to be very soon. I think that a new generation of cameras, like the AF-100 are going to shake things up, again.
I agree, David, I'm really excited to see where the AF-100 and future bodies will take the industry.
I also think that the DSLR revolution has gotten people to really start learning about lenses and F stops and everything that goes along with that, and it's a great thing.
I also think that the DSLR revolution has gotten people to really start learning about lenses and F stops and everything that goes along with that, and it's a great thing.
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
If one is set on making a microbudget feature, I wouldn't do it for more than $30,000. Getting distribution, let alone getting a distributor to pay you what they owe, is a tough go. I have friends who have distro deals for their microbudget indie and those who don't. Both work equally as hard promoting the film, but the ones without the distribution deal see the money going into their own pocket. Those with a deal are seeing it go to everyone standing between them and their audience.
Personally, I'm 90% done making films for under $2 million. Working on access to a film fund and I'm currently developing a slate of half a dozen $5mm pictures. Still, I enjoy the smallness of the ultra low budget films. But knowing what I know, the business strategy for those must line up with the reality of how much of a return we can expect. Looking at digital platforms alone (iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, etc), you can't expect to make more than $30,000 in the first YEAR of release of a low budget indie with no stars. This is based on the internal numbers shared with me by several digital rights mgmt companies and digital platform aggregators. hopefully, that will change, but "hope" is not a business strategy and neither is pointing out exceptions to the rule.
Instead, we'll take these microbudget expertise we've amasses to make $5 million look like $50 million, budget up to 20% for marketing, build our own theatrical releasing company, put nearly half the budget toward casting stars to drive foreign sales and form our own mini-major! I'm intent on taking as much risk out of the equation as possible, so in terms of distribution, we'll handle as much of that as possible on our own domestically.
but if you want to make a microbudget indie, you'll need to keep costs as low as possible and the DSLRs, I would say, are ideal for that. And cast is still important. Perhaps consider filling your leads out with internet celebrities, hosts of tech shows (most of which are actors who got that gig by auditioning) and other people with an established following on twitter, facebook and fan forums. If they had just 50,000 fans and you sold a $12 DVD to just 10% of them... you'd double your $30,000 production budget.
Personally, I'm 90% done making films for under $2 million. Working on access to a film fund and I'm currently developing a slate of half a dozen $5mm pictures. Still, I enjoy the smallness of the ultra low budget films. But knowing what I know, the business strategy for those must line up with the reality of how much of a return we can expect. Looking at digital platforms alone (iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, etc), you can't expect to make more than $30,000 in the first YEAR of release of a low budget indie with no stars. This is based on the internal numbers shared with me by several digital rights mgmt companies and digital platform aggregators. hopefully, that will change, but "hope" is not a business strategy and neither is pointing out exceptions to the rule.
Instead, we'll take these microbudget expertise we've amasses to make $5 million look like $50 million, budget up to 20% for marketing, build our own theatrical releasing company, put nearly half the budget toward casting stars to drive foreign sales and form our own mini-major! I'm intent on taking as much risk out of the equation as possible, so in terms of distribution, we'll handle as much of that as possible on our own domestically.
but if you want to make a microbudget indie, you'll need to keep costs as low as possible and the DSLRs, I would say, are ideal for that. And cast is still important. Perhaps consider filling your leads out with internet celebrities, hosts of tech shows (most of which are actors who got that gig by auditioning) and other people with an established following on twitter, facebook and fan forums. If they had just 50,000 fans and you sold a $12 DVD to just 10% of them... you'd double your $30,000 production budget.
David G. Smith
Steak Knife Member
Wow, Zak, thanks. This is right in the ball park of were I am preparing my next project to be. It just "Seemed" right. Thanks for confirming. Where's the thread subscription button!!
gabrielflorit
Well-known member
Yeah - surprising! These days it seems DSLR threads get derailed for the worst.
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
you’re going to have to qualify that. when talking in terms of production, the sort of picture that $2.5mm could produce is now the sort of picture that $250,000 can produce given this down economy and the low cost of technology. now, I assume you are talking about ROI from domestic distribution and foreign sales, in which case you’re counterpoint is a bit of a straw man to what’s being discussed. Still, I would love to know what insights you have.